The investment arm of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar Holdings, is thought to have invested around $30 billion during the course of 2012. Reports now suggest that a proportion of this will now be used to deliver social and environmental improvements as well as financial returns.

According to theFinancial Times, someone familiar with QIA’s plans said, “They are trying to recast their image a bit.”

The source added that QIA have a specific team assessing opportunities within impact investment.

A separate source told the FT that Qatar Holdings have made an initial investment of around $400,000 in boosting the supply of agriculture goods in east Africa but did not disclose information around expected returns.

Impact investing intends to generate measurable social and environmental returns alongside financial ones. The number of funds engaged with impact investment has grown rapidly, and continues to do so.